HC Deb 15 August 1913 vol 56 cc3464-6

(a) The manner and conditions in and upon which the following matters may be carried into effect:—

  1. (i) The amalgamation for the purposes of Part I. of the principal Act of any two or more approved societies, or of an approved society with a society which is not an approved society or of any two or more branches of an approved society:
  2. (ii) The financial adjustments to be made on any such amalgamation.

(b) The manner and conditions in and upon which the dissolution of approved societies may be carried into effect, and for that purpose providing for the valuation of the assets and liabilities of dissolved societies under Part I. of the principal Act, and the reduction (either permanently or temporarily), in the event of a deficiency being disclosed, of the rates of benefits payable to members and the periods during which those benefits or any of them are payable, and for the establishment of a special fund to which contributions of such members are to be paid, and out of which their benefits are to be paid, and the application, subject to the prescribed modifications, adaptations, and exceptions to such funds and the members thereof, of the provisions of Part I. of the principal Act relating to approved societies and the membership of and transfer to and from approved societies.

(c) Authorising the Commissioners to withdraw approval from a society on account of maladministration of its affairs under the principal Act in cases where it appears expedient in the interests of the members of the society to do so.

(d) The crediting or variation (whether by way of increase or decrease), and cancellation of reserve values.

Amendments made: In paragraph (a), at the end of (i), insert the words— (ii) The transfer by an approved society of its engagements under Part I. of the principal Act, or of such of those engagements as relate to members resident in a particular part of the United Kingdom, to any others approved society which undertakes to fulfil these engagements, and the transfer from one branch to one or more other branches, or to the society of such engagements as aforesaid.

In paragraph (a) (ii), after the word "amalgamation," insert the words" or transfer."—[Mr. Masterman.]

Dr. MACNAMARA

I beg to move, at the end of the Schedule, to add a new paragraph— (e) Applying to the Navy and Army Insurance Fund and to members of that fund such of the provisions of the principal Act as amended by this Act, relating to approved societies and to membership of and transfer to and from approved societies, as the Commissioners think necessary for facilitating admissions to and transfer from the fund and for the proper administration of the fund, and for enabling a man entitled to the payment of maternity benefit from that fund to continue to be so entitled until transferred to an approved society or until he becomes a deposit contributor, and for extending any of the provisions of Sub-section (3) of Section 46 of the principal Act to seamen, soldiers, and marines who are not members of an approved society. This is an adaptation of a valuable Amendment which stood in the name of the hon. Member for Colchester (Mr. Worthington-Evans), which I 'have modified in one or two small particulars. We may not wish to extend all the provisions of Sub-section (3), therefore we say "any of the provisions of Sub-section (3)."

Question, "That those words be there added," put, and agreed to.

Further Amendments made: After the words last added, insert a new paragraph, (f) For enabling the sums to be paid or credited in any year to Insurance Committees under Sub-section (1) of Section sixty-one of the principal Act, instead of being paid or credited at the commencement of the year, to be paid or credited at such time or times and in such instalments and in such manner and proportions as may, with the consent of the Treasury, be prescribed.

After the words last added, insert a new paragraph, (g) Enabling approved societies and Insurance Committees and, in the case of persons entitled to benefits out of the Navy and Army Insurance Fund, the Admiralty or Army Council to appoint a person to exercise on behalf of any insured person of unsound mind any right of election which that person is, under Part I. of the principal Act, entitled to exercise, and to appoint a person to receive on behalf and for the benefit of such person any sums by way of benefit which would otherwise have been payable to him."—[Mr. Masterman.]

Question, "That the Schedule, as amended, be added to the Bill," put, and agreed to.